Society News

New Delhi, Jan 17 (ANI): Delhi woke up to another foggy morning on Saturday disrupting normal life. Apart from road traffic, 68 flights were delayed and six cancelled. The fog also affected the movement of trains with more than 50 delayed and eight rescheduled. The minimum temperature early on Saturday morning was recorded at 8.4 degrees Celsius. The national capital had also witnessed a foggy morning on Friday.Jan 17, 2015

Hyderabad, Jan 17 (ANI): Police in Hyderabad arrested an Islamic State (IS) sympathiser when he was about to board a flight to Dubai. The police detained 22-year-old engineer Salman Moinuddin at the airport. After interrogation, police said Moinuddin confessed that he was going to join the IS along with his British-national girlfriend Nicky Joseph. They had planned to meet in Dubai and then travel to Syria through Turkey. Sudarshan added an investigation is underway in the matter. However, Moinuddin’s father evaded questions from media.Jan 17, 2015

Philippines, Jan 17 (ANI): An emotional Pope Francis, wearing a plastic poncho over his vestments to protect him from the wind and rain on Saturday, comforted survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines' worst natural disaster that killed about 6,300 people 14 months ago. Tens of thousands of people wearing yellow raincoats cheered when Francis emerged from his plane in the coastal city of Tacloban, 650 km (400 miles) southeast of Manila. Worshippers, many with tears in their eyes, stood amid puddles in a mud-soaked field as the pope comforted them. He said he "respected the feelings" of those who felt they had been let down by God because of the disaster but implored them to move forward in their faith. Nearly 3,000 victims are buried in the city's almost half-hectare mass grave site. Hundreds are still unaccounted for.Jan 17, 2015

Mumbai, Jan 17 (ANI): An employee of a security agency allegedly spiked the tea of his three colleagues on a cash delivery van and scooted with Rs 2 crore after his accomplices waylaid the vehicle in Vile Parle on Friday. Police said the incident took place in Western Express Highway late Friday night and a hunt was on to nab the prime accused Sadre Alam and his three associates. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Virendra Mishra, said Alam asked his three colleagues to stop the van at Worli under pretext of some work and later brought tea for his colleagues, which was spiked with sedatives. Mishra said Alam and his three associates entered the van after two guards fell conscious and the driver felt drowsy. The accused opened the security locker with help of Alam and decamped with the cash.Jan 17, 2015

New Delhi, Jan 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that he is committed to meeting this year's budget deficit target, welcoming a cut in interest rates by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the back of falling inflation. In a speech, Modi said his government would cut wasteful spending, streamline the payment of welfare benefits and raise investment in roads and railways to boost economic growth in Asia's third-largest economy. Modi's comments signalled his assent to RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's call for "sustained high quality fiscal consolidation" as a condition for further monetary easing after a surprise quarter-point cut on Thursday. The 64-year-old prime minister said it would be difficult to revive economic growth but promised to deliver incremental reforms.Jan 17, 2015

Mumbai, Jan 17 (ANI): A massive fire broke out at a 42-storeyed building which was under construction at the Omkar Alta Monte complex, Malad (East) on Friday night. The fire started around 11 p.m. According to reports, it broke out on the 37th floor and later spread to the 42nd floor. Fire tenders and officials were rushed to the spot. However, the fire fighters had to face difficulty as they did not have facilities to reach the 37th floor. The fire was later doused.Jan 17, 2015

Amritsar, Jan 17 (ANI): Security has been tightened across India ahead of Republic Day's celebrations on January 26. Extra vigil is being mounted at border towns as Indian security agencies fear militant attacks from across the border ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to the country. Obama will be the first US President to attend a Republic Day celebration. He is the only US President to visit the country twice while in office. India security officials have said around 200 militants are waiting to cross over from across the border.Jan 17, 2015

Tattoos have hit the mainstream in South Korea but the law is lagging behind, leaving the growing number of Korean tattoo artists vulnerable to prosecution on the whim of local authorities.Jan 17, 2015